June 2020 NOTES Nancy F. Walker Memorial Scholarship Program was a Virtual Success! With the same determination as the person for whom the competition was named, organizers of the third annual Nancy F. Walker Scholarships Competition refused to be stopped by Covid-19. Kudos to the committee of Nancy Bailey, Nancy Martin, Kathy Adams, Carolmae Katz, Deb Grove and Mary Pennycuff for having the imagination and fortitude to hold the auditions during this time of isolation. How did they do it? After consulting with legal advisors, and with agreement from the judges, they were able to make these awards via the following adjustments in procedure: Auditions were done via YouTube submissions of up to 10 minutes of memorized music. If necessary, students were allowed to be recorded without an accompanist. All applicants were notified during the week of April 11 as to whether their video would be adjudicated. Adjudicated videos were emailed to three highly qualified judges who assigned scores and made comments. Their comments were compiled, in no special order, and anonymously, and emailed to individuals after April 18. Results of the competition were emailed on or around April 18, 2020 to all whose videos were adjudicated.
Meet the Judges We thank our wonderful judges not only for their generosity and musicianship but also their flexibility as we reconfigured the competition to accommodate this year’s Covid-19 requirements. Instrumental Judges
Dan Culnan – Associate principal cellist, Cincinnati Symphony; pianist. Karen Schneider – Well known for teaching and her embouchure problem solving skills; faculty of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp and Barry Tuckwell Institute. Manami White – Concertmaster, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra; concertmaster and associate director, Collegium Cincinnati; principal second violin and personnel manager, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra; concertmaster, South Florida Symphony Orchestra; concertmaster, Ohio Valley Symphony. Vocal Judges Mark Calkins - Associate professor of music, voice at Berea College; past president of Kentucky chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing; teacher of master classes in classical operatic and musical theatre performance internationally. Evans Mirageas - Artistic director of Cincinnati Opera. Morgan Smith - Baritone, local resident and prolific global performer of modern operatic repertoire.
D. Culnan M. White M. Smith E. Mirageas M. Calkins K. Schneider June 2020 And the Winners are…
1st Place, High School 2nd Place, High School Instrumental Instrumental Kasey Shao, piano (junior, Simon Bakos, bass clarinet (senior, Walnut Hills High School – Ran Mason High School – Diana Gipson, Dank, teacher) teacher) Began her musical journey age Feels lucky to come from a family five when her mother brought home an electric that enjoys and supports music in piano. many ways. Is inspired by her current piano teacher, Prof. Ran Names Luciano Pavarotti as his Dank, her fellow competitors and the great great inspiration. pianists in history. Began to study bass clarinet in the seventh grade and Won the Albert M. Greenfield Concerto clarinet when a freshman Competition in Philadelphia when she was 12. The adulation she received from young children As a high school junior, visited his two top college after the concert made her realize "that the magic choices, one for music, the other non-music. Curtis I found in music in the practice room could be Institute of Music won. transported to others and change their lives. Since Had planned to attend Boston University Tanglewood then, it has been my goal to commit myself to the Institute this summer which was cancelled. music and the instrument for life." Says Covid-19 "presents new challenges for me and As Covid-19 resulted in cancelled summer events other music students across the country." and competitions, she’ll use the time to learn new repertoire.
1st Place, College Instrumental 2nd Place, College Instrumental Yang Gao, piano (junior, University of Cincinnati Janna Young, harp (senior, CCM – Gillian College-Conservatory of Music – Awadagin Pratt, Sella, teacher) teacher) Played the piano until age 11, then Began to study piano at age four, but knew music switched to harp. was his love in middle school. Decided to pursue a musical career when, Gives good reviews to CCM and Cincinnati: "The following a high school talent show, a biggest reason why I came to CCM was that I teacher and his wife told her how comforted wanted to study with my current professor, they were by her performance. Awadagin Pratt. Also, I really like the opportunities I can get at CCM. Furthermore, it is Was inspired to attend CCM following a trial lesson amazing that Cincinnati has one of the greatest with Dr. Gillian Sella. symphonies in the nation and there are a lot of Before Covid-19, was working her way through a list musical events here." of coffee shops in Cincinnati that she visited with Summer competitions and festivals are cancelled friends or homework. and so will learn new repertoire. Says music school is "very hard when not in person," Is practicing on an electronic keyboard since CCM and, with the fall undecided, may defer beginning her is closed. Master’s for a year. June 2020
1st Place, High School Vocal 2nd Place, High School Vocal Jadyn Riggs, mezzo-soprano (senior, Mary Wilkens, soprano (junior, School for Creative and Performing Arts Ursuline Academy – Melody – Karl Resnik, teacher) Wallace, teacher) Grew up watching her cousins perform Always knew she would be which inspired her passion for the arts. going into music, just not in what way. Began studying voice as a high school sophomore. Hails teacher Melody Wallace as a "miracle worker" who guided her through her self- Has studied with Karl Resnik for three years and proclaimed "belting phase" into the world of opera. declares it an "absolute joy." Will combine her love of voice and performing with Is a member of the Young Artists Preparatory a need to help others by becoming a speech Program at The Musical Arts Center. pathologist for injured singers. Loves performing and believes music is a gift that Enjoys sewing and her role as Costumes Head at St. connects people. X. Is one of seven students accepted into the voice Is taking voice lessons and master classes online program at CCM in the fall. and has begun to study piano. Says that Covid-19 has given "a great time for me to Is the sister of Nate Wilkens, who placed second in jump into learning other instruments besides my the College Vocal category. voice such as the piano and guitar. Even though this time is so unknown, I have loved getting to focus Records a Christmas CD for her grandparents every more energy on my music studies. year with her brother Nate and cousin Lauren.
1st Place, College Vocal 2nd Place, College Vocal Sara “Storm” Hargrave, soprano Nathanial Wilkens, baritone (junior, CCM – Amy Johnson, (junior, Miami University – teacher) Alison Acord, teacher) When she was a child, her Became interested in voice grandmother took her to an opera at when he and his siblings the Met and she fell in love with the tagged along with their whole experience. mother to her singing lessons. Began voice lessons at age 11 and Began to study with over the next decade moved from musical theater to Melody Wallace at age 12. classical repertoire. Sang with the St. X A Capella Knew music was her love the first time she sang for Choir all four years and was chosen as president an audience. "The rush of excitement that I feel is of Miami University Theater in college. one of the most invigorating sensations and it’s one of the few things that makes me feel truly alive." Is a website designer and coder. Will record an album of original songs this summer Hopes to join Marlena Malas’s Chautauqua with her brother in addition to learning operatic Institute Voice Program this summer and to return repertoire for her senior recital. to Miami for his senior year. Family began to call her "Storm" to remind her of Was lucky enough to give his junior recital the the strength within her. night before Miami’s Covid-19 shut down. Is the brother of Mary Wilkens, 2nd place winner in the High School Vocal category. For 3rd Place and Honorable Mention awards, next page June 2020
Three Recitals from 2019-2010 Season are Rescheduled
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Matinée Musicale Cincinnati postponed the recitals of Nicole Cabell (March 27), Christina Nam (April 19) and Pene Pati (May 3). Pene Pati’s recital has been rescheduled to Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 3:00 pm at Memorial Hall. Christina Nam’s recital has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 3:00 pm at Memorial Hall. Nicole Cabell’s recital has been rescheduled to Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 3:00 pm at Memorial Hall. If you are a ticket holder to any of these recitals, there is nothing you need to do to change your tickets. Your current tickets will work for the new dates. All 3 recitals will be at Memorial Hall as originally planned. If the new dates do not work for you, please feel free to call the Memorial Hall box office at (513) 977-8838, to discuss your options, If the Governor’s ban is extended, notifications will be sent promptly.
Coming Soon! A New Look for SCHOLARSHIPS, cont’d Matinée on the World Wide Web! High School Instrumental College Instrumental Please take a look at our new website 3rd Place (tied) 3rd Place matineemusicalecincinnati.org in mid- Daniel Dorsey, cello, Phillip Palmore, French horn June! Jessica Rhoades of Create IT Meagan Hipsky, cello Designs has implemented the refreshed Honorable Mention look and functionality of the site. It’s the Honorable Mention Kasey Stokes, piano place to go for the latest info on recitals, Jennifer Armor, violin Charlie Gately, trumpet artists and club activities. We hope to Nolan Meister, piano Natalie Orth, violin "see" you there! Arun Kamath, piano Stephan Freeman, piano Andrew Lu, piano College Vocal High School Vocal 3rd Place 3rd Place Kayla Kramer, soprano Until we meet again to Eric Riedel, tenor enjoy beautiful music Honorable Mention together, be safe and well. Honorable Mention Logan Wagner, tenor Claire Northcut, soprano We look forward to the Hayden Smith, baritone time when our friendships are renewed through our shared Congratulations to these talented students for stellar performances experience. under unusual (to say the least!) circumstances!